Community Gathers To Mourn U.S. Marine Killed In Chattanooga Attack
GRANTSBURG, Wis. (WCCO) -- A decorated Wisconsin Marine, killed in an attack at a Tennessee military facility, is now home.
Sgt. Carson Holmquist, 25, was one of the five service members killed in a shooting at a Chattanooga military recruitment center. He is survived by his parents, wife and young son.
The FBI says the shooter, 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, killed Holmquist and four others before being fatally shot by police.
On Friday night, friends, family and community members staged a solemn salute in Holmquist's hometown of Grantsburg.
In the town of 1,300, everyone seems to know the family, but even people from far away wanted to be involved as a marine returns home for his funeral tomorrow.
Hundreds lined Highway 70 through Grantsburg to pay their respects as Holmquist was returned home to be buried tomorrow. Local businesses displayed signs honoring the marine, who served one tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Family members say Holmquist and his wife met in Grantsburg back in high school, and while they moved around a bit for his job, Grantsburg was always home for the couple and their 2-year-old son, Wyatt.
His cousin said it's been amazing to watch word spread of this organic get-together on social media. She said can see that Holmquist and his whole family is loved.
"Such honor to know we have support as a family and community," Holmquist's cousin Carolyn said. "It means a lot, especially to Carson. He meant so much to so many people."
She said no one was surprised when Holmquist wanted to honor his country by becoming a marine.
"He'd say things that meant a lot but were simple," Carolyn said. "He was just very kind."
After two tours of duty in Afghanistan, he always made his hometown proud for what he did but, more importantly, for who he was.
A funeral will be held on Saturday.
